News

New Power of Attorney laws went into effect on January 1, 2018. These will help prevent misappropriation of principal’s funds by the agent (the “POA”). For more information on the legislations, here’s an article by the NC School of Government: Judicial Relief under the New GS Chapter 32C, the North Carolina Uniform Power of Attorney Act W. Kirk Sanders, Attorney Hendrick Bryant Nerhood Sanders & Otis, LLP 723 Coliseum Dr. Ste. 101 Winston-Salem, NC 27106 Telephone: (336)723-7200 Facsimile: (336)723-7201 Home Will...

§ 28A-15-13. Opening and inventory of decedent’s safe-deposit box. In an estate, many valuable are kept in a safe deposit box. These boxes should be opened with care and with due caution. It is recommended in the situation where it is not required (See below), that the executor open the box in the presence of an independent person and the beneficiaries. That way everyone is present who has an interest in the contents of the safe-deposit box. If no one has the Clerk’s authority, no one can enter an individual’s safe deposit...

Lis Pendens is one of the more important filings in a Will Contest or Fiduciary Litigation in North Carolina (NC). Lis Pendens roughly means ‘litigation pending’ and puts persons on notice that the real estate involved in the estate, trust or fiduciary matter is part of a lawsuit. In North Carolina litigation matters, this is an extremely powerful tool. Without the lis pendens, it’s possible for real estate that could be brought into the case gets transferred. One of the main questions to be asked before pursuing an estate...

Issue: How to prevent estate litigation between heirs Parents/Testators- be specific in your gifts. Have a plan for dividing up personal property. Beware of just saying “all my personal property to be divided in equal shares between my four children”. If you do that, you may cause the kids to fight over the same items. Tracy Bennett, a clinical psychologist, experienced this. She learned from the experience and designed methods to help families divide estates. A link to a NY Times article is below. She makes this point: “I ask parents to...

Will Caveat Issue: What if the caveator has already accepted property under the will he/she wants to attack? Does the Doctrine of Estoppel apply? Estoppel General Rule: one who accepts the benefits under a will is estopped to contest the will’s validity. Said another way: one who accepts the benefits of a transaction or under an instrument can’t turn around to take a later position inconsistent with that previous transaction/instrument. Estoppel Rule 2/Distinction/Exception: ‘One cannot be estopped by accepting that which he would...